DHAKA:  A Dhaka court deferred till January 7 recording deposition of the plaintiff in Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jomader of the Special Judge Court-3 Wednesday re-fixed the date after accepting the four adjournment pleas filed by defence lawyers. 

Barrister Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Advocate Sanaullah Mia moved for Khaleda while Khirshed Alam Khan and Moshrrof Hossian Kajol stood for the ACC.

Wednesday was scheduled for recording deposition of ACC Deputy-Director Harun-or-Rashid, the plaintiff of the Zia Orphanage Trust case.

Earlier, the same court rejected 10 petitions filed by Khaleda seeking time for recording deposition on December 8, December 1 and October 13.

On September 22, the court started trial of the cases in absence of BNP chief and recorded a partial deposition of the plaintiff.

In 2009, the anti-graft watchdog filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case for embezzlement of over Tk 2.1 crore.

Earlier in 2011, the ACC filed Zia Charitable Trust corruption case accusing Khaleda and four others of abusing power in setting up the charitable trust.

BDST: 1340 HRS, DEC 24, 2014